Review board finds two accidental firearm discharges, orders retraining; one OIS found in policy

The Firearm Discharge Review Board reported its third-quarter findings to the San Francisco Police Commission on Oct. 3.

Deputy Chief Charles Keohane, chairing the review-board presentation, said the board reviewed incidents identified in the agenda packet and found that officer-involved discharges numbered six-seven and seven-seven were "not in policy" and determined both to be accidental. The board voted unanimously to recommend retraining at the range for the involved inspector and officer, counseling where appropriate, and procurement of a safe and clean bullet-stop device to facilitate safe unloading; a smaller interim device has been placed in the unit while the larger device is on order.

Deputy Chief Keohane said the inspector and officer involved completed retraining and that the board recommended admonishment and continued training measures. Separately, the board reviewed another officer-involved shooting (case six-seven) and found that incident to be "in policy;" a summary report will be prepared by the chief and forwarded to the commission.

Commissioners questioned whether policy requires weapons to be cleared before transportation. Keohane said the practice depends on the circumstances and that if a member is unfamiliar with a weapon a range staff member should secure and unload it; the failure to follow the recommended process was cited as the basis for the remedial action in the accidental-discharge cases.

Sergeant Joseph McFadden, the OIS coordinator, updated commissioners on pending OIS investigations and described a number of pre-2005 cases remaining at different stages of review; he reported coordination with the district attorney—s office and an expectation of additional summary letters to be forwarded to the commission in coming weeks.